Ellen DeGeneres Warns Taiwan Not To Use Beagle Puppies for Experiments on Rabies

The talk show host has apparently joined the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine's fight in discouraging Taiwan from doing so.

"As a long-time advocate for the welfare of animals, I would like to join the many physicians, scientists, and veterinarians who have encouraged the Taiwanese government to avoid experimenting on live animals in its efforts to combat the rabies virus in Taiwan," DeGeneres writes in a letter to officials that is set to be delivered to Taiwanese officials tomorrow.

"I understand that the proposed experiments, which would involve infecting beagles, mice and ferret-badgers with the deadly rabies virus are neither humane nor scientifically necessary," DeGeneres also writes. "No one would want to think of forcing live animals to go through experiments in which they develop rabies and ultimately die from it. Experts from the international scientific and veterinary communities agree that the infectivity of rabies viruses and the resulting course of infection in animals have been well established."

DeGeneres further states that use of animals in experiments "is not necessary for protecting public health."